A Quest for the Perfect Everyday Bra (Hint: I Found One) * Menopausal Brunette

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woman on stairs, bra review, menopausal brunette

What are you looking for in a bra? I like to keep things simple. I want an everyday bra that I can wear whether I’m working, running errands, lounging or going for a walk. I went on a quest for the perfect everyday bra and am thrilled to say I found a couple of winners.

The best everyday bra needs to have comfort, support, coverage and looks.

If you haven’t read my About page or my Welcome Message, I’ll tell you I am 55 years old and what I am looking for may be not be the same thing that my 23 year-old daughter is. The biggest considerations in finding a great everyday bra for me are: comfort, support, coverage and looks. And, I wanted one that had it all. At my age, we want to look fabulous but comfort and practicality are extremely important. I am a 38 D. When I’m trying on a button up blouse that’s gapping open or any time I’m trying on a bathing suit, I wish I was a little smaller up top. But support is definitely a consideration as well as coverage. I don’t have much patience for a bra that I am going to fall out of while I’m loading the washer, so I also looked for full coverage styles.

Get a Bra Fitting

Size brings me to an important point. If it’s been a while since you were fitted for a bra, you should really have it done again. There are all sorts of articles that contend a vast majority of women may be wearing the wrong bra size and they may be. I’ve had a few fittings done over the last 10 years. Find a salesperson who has some real experience with this. My most recent one was at a Belk’s department store. Any larger department store should have a fitter in their intimates department. I’ve also had one done at a specialty store, Soma. Some women are surprised to find out what their correct size is. Our bodies change over the years. It’s just a number, but it’s important to have a good starting point for the best fit.

The Contenders

I tried to sample a variety. Most bras I tried were in shades of nude (that’s my practical side). Most were underwire, a couple were wirefree and a couple were minimizers which I’ve never worn before. I didn’t try any sports bras. I really wanted to focus on an everyday bra. Here were the contenders:

And the results…

The Bottom

At the bottom, in last place and ones that just didn’t work for me at all:

Bali Comfort Revolutionizing Shaping Wirefree Bra
Vanity Fair Beauty Back Full Figure Bra (wirefree)
Wacoal Slimline Seamless Minimizer Bra

The idea of wirefree was nice, sounded comfortable, but for me the reality was…bad. There just wasn’t any support from either of those and I felt pretty sad in them. I guess they were comfortable but it’s also comfortable to go without a bra all together, right?

The Wacoal minimizer was not very attractive and very uncomfortable for me. It felt very tight and I just felt squished.

In the middle

One thing I learned through this process was that I think I prefer a bra without padded cups. Personally, I don’t want the added volume. The Wacoal Flawless Comfort Spacer T-Shirt Bra and the Soma Vanishing Back Full Coverage Bra are both very comfortable and supportive. But both have lightly padded cups and because of that, I just couldn’t put them in my top three. But if you prefer a little padding, you may love these. That was really the only drawback for me with either of these.

I actually really liked the Chantelle C Magnifique Minimizer bra. I wanted to give a minimizer a try just to see how it would feel and if I was going to get one it would be this one. In some clothes, I think it would look better to be slightly less busty. But all in all, I think that an unlined, non-minimizer, supportive bra is the way to go, for me. If you prefer a minimizer you should definitely give this one a go. It’s pretty and supportive.

At the Top:

In third place, is the Wacoal Halo Lace Bra. I have to say, this bra is the one that made me feel, well, the sexiest, I guess you could say. This is the only bra I tried in a bright, pretty color, so that may have something to do with it. With all over soft, stretchy lace, it gives you such a natural shape that felt different. It does offer some support as well and is very comfortable. I really like it. If I was smaller in the bust it may have been my favorite. But if I’m truly looking for an everyday bra, this can’t be the one. For a night out, it would be great, and I may have to keep it.

Two Amazing Everyday Bras:

The Wacoal Vivid Encounter Underwire Bra has it all. It checks all the boxes. It’s very comfortable, supportive and attractive. I absolutely love it. It is lacy but it has a thin fabric lining, so no show through. I really can’t come up with any complaints about this bra. This one is a keeper.

The Wacoal Perfect Primer may edge the Vivid Encounter bra in comfort level. I don’t think I’ve ever worn a more comfortable bra. The fabric has stretch/give to it, so when you take a deep breath it really flexes with you. It’s a little more plain looking than the Vivid Encounter but it is still attractive. This is an unlined bra. I tried the nude and it is only slightly sheer, not enough to show through any shirt.

These two, top-rated bras are the ones you can keep at the front of your drawer and wear absolutely any and every day. Both choices would work for women in a variety of sizes, I think. The right bra, in the right size gives you a confident feeling to start your day. Especially, if paired with the perfect panty. That will have to be for another time but I’m working on it.

Stay tuned.